{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

Months after commissioner’s death, defamation lawsuit continues

Former city commissioner Bill Moss died seven months ago but his opponent’s former employer, a political consulting firm, continues to pursue a defamation suit against Moss’s estate.

The lawsuit alleges that in February Palm Beach Post article, Moss made a “false and defamatory statement” about Public Concepts, the firm that employed his opponent in the March city commission race, Dodger Arp.

Moss, who handily won reelection to a seventh term, died two weeks after the March 13 election. Shanon Materio was later appointed to replace Moss on the dais.

Moss had apologized in an ad in The Post but in a statement blasted the lawsuit as political. In the Feb. 26 article, Moss said Arp wouldn’t make a good commissioner because he works “for a firm that has been fined by the courts multiple times for attacking public officials all over the state.” Moss said in his ad that he didn’t realize that Public Concepts was fined by the Florida Elections Commission and not the courts.

Arp said Tuesday that he no longer works for Public Concepts and is not a party to the suit. He declined comment on the suit.

But testimony is being taken, with one deposition scheduled for Wednesday.

Moss’ former campaign consultants, Rick Asnani and Jonathan Cooper, his former foe-turned-supporter David Smith, Moss’ nephew Michael Bakst and Bill Newgent, the head of an organization that sent out mailers against Moss’ opponent during the March election, have all been subpoenaed in a lawsuit that is now going after Moss’ estate, according to public records.

Smith, who ran against Moss and Arp before dropping out of the race a week before the election and endorsing Moss, said he will give a deposition today.

Smith said he assumed the lawsuit was over after Moss died. “I don’t know what they’re looking for from me,” Smith said.

Smith said he’s been asked to bring any documentation between him and Moss referencing Arp or Public Concepts.

“I’m going to bring everything I have, which amounts to zero,” Smith said. “I think they’re fishing for something else, but I don’t know what. They can ask me any questions they want.”

Randy Nielsen, founder of Public Concepts, did not immediately return a call for comment. Representatives from Moss’ estate confirmed that the lawsuit is ongoing but declined further comment.